Assistant Head Nurse, Nurse Navigator

Are you an experienced Registered Nurse who wants to be part of an innovative cancer screening approach? Alberta Health Services is currently recruiting a second Nurse Navigator (NN) to support our provincial Breast, Cervical and Colorectal cancer screening programs through a unique, grant-funded project. You will have the opportunity to lead a new virtual cancer screening care pathway, with a focus on underscreened populations without access to a Primary Care Provider. As a NN, you will provide virtual care to Albertans by assessing their eligibility for cancer screening, providing education about screening processes, arrange screening referrals and follow up referrals for individuals with abnormal screening results. You will also transition care for anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis or presents with concerns that fall outside of the screening pathway. You will work closely with the Medical Director of Screening Programs to resolve complex cases and use critical thinking to triage or redirect patients to the appropriate provider. The NN responsibilities will include, refining developed clinical pathways, educating patients about cancer screening eligibility and test results and facilitating access to screening services (including follow up) through various methods, like the FIT mail out as well as cervix self-screening and screening mammography self-referrals. Leveraging your clinical proficiency, the NN will collaborate with healthcare providers and partners to promote best practice and guideline adherence. You will use electronic medical records to document patient care and conduct follow-up communication (e.g., phone). This is a remote/hybrid position, subject to change depending on the requirements for the pathway, once implemented. Occasional travel to a designated site may be requested depending on operational alignment.

As an Assistant Head Nurse, you will be responsible for staff assignments, patient flow and acting as a role model, clinical resource and advocate for nursing staff. In addition to providing frontline nursing care, as required, you will take a leadership role in the promotion of quality patient care and the implementation of operational priorities. Your in-depth knowledge and skills, advanced judgment and clinical experience, will assist in providing solutions for complex health care issues at all levels with patients, interprofessional teams, administrators and policy makers. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality patient and family centered care while reflecting the shared vision and values of AHS.

Completion of an accredited nursing education program. Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA). Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP). PLEASE NOTE: This posting is scheduled to close at 23:59 MT of the posting end date but may be filled earlier if a Regular Employee who holds a position within the unit, program, or office expresses their interest in this vacancy by 23:59 MT on the 5th calendar day following the posting date, under LOU #25. In the event that no Regular Employee from this workplace expresses their interest by the deadline, the vacancy shall be filled under the provisions of Article 14: Promotions, Transfers and Vacancies. Please be advised this posting may be used to fill multiple identical vacancies arising as a result of the administration of the Trial of Modified Posting Provisions.

Minimum 5 years nursing experience working with patients in patient navigation, case management, cancer screening/diagnosis specific to the areas of breast, cervical and/or colorectal cancer. Progressive experience that aligns toward an Assistant Head Nurse, Team Lead or Educator level. Clinical experience and/or broad knowledge of acute care processes, specialty clinic processes and primary care services are assets. Professional interpersonal skills and experience communicating effectively with both healthcare providers and the public. Proven experience performing detailed written (clinical) documentation. Experience and proficiency working in virtual environments and with related technologies. (Teams, Video conferencing, Zoom, or related virtual healthcare platforms). Work experience in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Able to work independently and prioritize. Experienced/proven clinical problem-solving skills to think critically in a specialized healthcare environment. Experience facilitating patient care within local community needs. Experience working with Connect Care. Please note that this position will operate primarily during the daytime Mon to Fri but some shifts will run into the evenings in order to accommodate for patient availability.

Master’s degree in nursing or related healthcare areas. Experience in breast, cervical and/or colorectal cancer screening or diagnosis. Previous role as a navigator for patients. Virtual patient care experience. Course completion in nurse navigation. Knowledge of healthcare systems (wait times, referral processes, etc.) in Alberta. Experience working with under screened populations. Experience applying Clinical Practice Guidelines. Experience in case management or triaging patients.